Chapter II
My family thinks I'm crazy. Leaving a high paying job in one of the most prestigious hospitals in the core in order to go to god knows where and do god knows what. Guess I just got bored with the high society life. Fancy parties just aren't one of my interests. Plus who am I really helping here? Most of the surgeries I do are for vanity. I'd rather make a difference somehow. So that's how I ended up here. I'd just been walking through the docks when a pretty young lady with Auburn hair quirked her head at me and told me that I was going to travel on her ship.
"What makes you think that?" I asked.
"Because you ain't lookin' for anything more than an adventure…and I know and I think you know too that you'll get that here." She smirked. "Your not lookin' for a destination. Hell I don't even think you know it yet but you want to leave. Find somethin' more. Somethin' bigger. And I got that."
She was right of course. Except for that I did know I wanted to leave, I'd been considering it for months. So I went and packed my belongings and now I'm sitting in one of the passenger bunks waiting for take off and wondering if this is actually a bad decision.
"We'll be takin' off soon. Just waitin' for the Cap'n to get back." Said a voice outside in the hall. I poked my head out and saw the other gentlemen doing the same. The dark skinned man, Thresh I believe he said his name is, was still looking awfully nervous.
"How much longer do you expect him to be gone?" Thresh asks him.
The man with copper hair whom I hadn't been introduced to yet just threw back his head and laughed. I saw Annie, the pilot and the girl who convinced me to come aboard, snickering behind him. I quirked an eyebrow in their direction.
"She'll be along soon enough. Sometimes the Cap'n just needs a few moments to herself." He answers with laughter still evident in his voice.
"The Captain is a woman?" I ask before the filter in my brain tells me it's probably rude to ask that question in that tone.
"Yupp. She's a damn good one too. If you got a problem with it I suggest you best be leavin'." He's completely serious. She must demand a lot of respect.
"No. No problem at all. I was just curious. After all it isn't often you hear of female captains." I reply coolly.
"Nope, not often at all is right pretty boy." Pretty boy? I really hope he doesn't intend to continue calling me that.
"The name is Peeta. Peeta Mellark." I offer my hand for him to shake, he grasps it firmly.
"Finnick Odair, first mate on this here boat. This here," he gestures to the auburn haired lady, "is Annie. My wife." She gives him a giddy smile.
"I gotta head to the cargo bay. Gotta wait for the Cap'n." Annie gives him a peck on the cheek before skipping out of the passenger bay.
""So pretty boy where are you headed?" Finnick asks me.
"No where. I just needed to get out of the core. I'd rather be helping people than performing plastic surgery."
"What about you?" Finnick turns his attention to Thresh.
A mildly panicked look crosses his eyes. "Who me? Oh I'm not sure. I guess I was just needing a change ya know."
He turns to one of the other passengers, Marvel I think his name was. He looks suspiciously like a fed. "Routine check up on the outer rim." He says quickly and without making eye contact before turning back into his bunk and shutting the door. Thresh also makes a quick exit claiming he needed a nap.
"I'm thinking that man's a fed." Finnick leans in close and whispers. I slowly nod.
A short crackle catches our attention before Annie's voice comes over the intercom, "Cap'n is back. Finnick, Gale would ya mind gettin' yer ass' up to the bridge." Finnick chuckles and turns to leave.
"That's my girl." With a smile he turns and leaves. What I wouldn't give to know love like that. To love someone so completely it leaves a dopey grin on your face and glaze in your eyes. With a sigh I turn back into my bunk. These bunks are actually pretty impressive for a transport ship. A comfortable loft bed with a small desk and chair underneath, as well as a small couch in the corner and a pull out toilet, with a drawer sink, and probably the smallest shower known to man tucked into the wall beside it. But still considering it's size these bunks are nice. There's a total of eight bunks, four on each side, two on bottom, two above, with ladders to reach the upper ones.
I grab a book and sit down on the couch, the soon to be familiar crackle of the intercom, "All secure. Prepare for take off." The voice is unfamiliar and female—it's feminine with a husky undertone, a hint of authority is unmistakable, and hidden power is woven into every word—must be the Captain. I can hear the ships engines start up and I can feel it lift into the air. The assent is quick and smooth; Annie sure knows how to fly.
"We're up." The Captain's voice speaks over the intercom again. A short while later there is a knock on the door of my bunk. Opening it I see Finnick and another tall, dark haired, brooding man. Thresh and Marvel are already in the doorways of their bunks.
"If ya'll wouldn't mind comin' with us. Gonna meet up in the dining area to introduce and all." Wordlessly we follow them towards the upper level of the ship, where, on a model like this one, the crew's quarters would be as well as the bridge, the dining and living spaces, and the engine room. The infirmary is just past the passenger bunks and the cargo bay is just beyond that. The two shuttles attach on either side of the cargo bay.
In the dining area we all sit around the wooden table, surrounded by mismatched chairs. The kitchen area is on the right side, and beside that there is an indentation in the wall where a couple of couches surround a small coffee table. Nothing matches, but it is quaint. Finnick and the brooding man stand near the door which I assume leads to the bridge. From the direction of the engine room I hear a loud stomping, sounds like combat boots. A short woman stomps in, she has black hair cut short in the back but longer in the front with a yellow bandana rolled up and tied as a headband. She's wearing jean overalls with the straps hanging down, and a black tank top. Both of which are spotted with grease. The moment she enters the brooding man stiffens.
Next comes Annie, strolling in with a skip in her step. But following her is the Captain. She is indeed a woman, and the most beautiful woman at that. She has long brown hair in loose braid, pieces falling around her face. Brown leather boots cover her feet and the bottom of her beige pants. A gun belt is wrapped around her waist with a simple revolver in the holster. A dark brown button up shirt is tucked into her pants and unbutton enough to reveal a hint of cleavage. Her figure is full and as she walks her hips sway in a tantalizing fashion. I shift slightly in my seat to relieve some of my current discomfort.
With everyone now gathered in the dining room the Captain welcomes us aboard the ship. "I'm your captain, my name is Katniss Everdeen. This here," she gestures to Finnick, "is Finnick Odair, second in command. This is Gale Hawthorne," she gestures to the brooding man on her other side who is holding a knife and running his finger gently along the blade, "he is here for…public relations," she smiles slyly with a humorous glint in her beautiful grey eyes. The crew gives a chuckle, while myself and the other passengers surely look a little startled and worried. "Beside Finnick is Annie Odair, you met her already, but she is the pilot of this old boat. Standing at the back there is the ships mechanic, Johanna Mason. And over there is Clove Reynolds; she's a bona fide escort."
Out of the corner of my eye I see Thresh and Marvel raise their eyebrows. The life of an escort is a mystery to any one. Because their job description changes depending on their character. Some are only there to provide bodyguard service, or to make a man of standing look good. However some are willing to provide extra services. Clove seems vicious enough, I'd bet she is the former.
"Alrighty, we'll we is on our way to the outer rim. You're free to roam about, everywhere 'cept the cargo bay, the bridge, and course bunks that don't belong to ya. Clear?" Her voice is hard and commanding. It isn't hard to see how she finds respect. "Also," she turns to me, "Doc your free to take up place in the infirmary if you's interested." I nod in reply. "I know ya'll probably be needin' to get into the bay to look through your things. We'd be glad to accompany you, but otherwise ain't no one goes down there without a crew member."
With that everyone heads down to the cargo bay. Everyone searches around their things for any personal effects they may need, Thresh pays special attention to a fancy crate stowed in the corner. Once everyone had what they needed we were directed back to our bunks to do as we please. I try to read, or do anything really, but my mind is completely consumed with thoughts of the captain, Katniss Everdeen. She is a mystery to me, one that I suddenly desperately wish to solve.
Author's Note: Hey everyone. Something got messed up and This chapter got missed. So I am re-adding all the chapters and then another one! Sorry for the mix up I hope you enjoy this story still! Read and Review please!